Pleasant Township (part 2 of 18)

Jesse Dungan, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, married lane Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, and, about, 1.807, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Range Township, on Bradford's Creek, where be resided till his death, in L824. He was the father of eight children; live uow survive Wilson, Rebecca (now Widow Rayburn), Esther (now Widow Moore, re siding in Iowa), John and Martha (who married Joseph Rayburn, and re sides in Chicago, III.). Mr. Dungan spent bis life as a farmer, and knew be held at his house, and a, society was organized about 1814, embn Mr. Dungan, David Kingery, William Hall and others, whose names are not now remembered. Some of the early ministers who preached bere Rev. Forgus Graham, George Alkire and Rev. Barton Stone, of Kentucky, the founder of the Christian Church. Mr. Dungan was the main pillar in this society, and served as exhorter for several year.-., and the organization was kept up and services held al his house till his death, after which they ceased, his funeral sermon being the hist sermon ever preached there Thus, though Mr. Dungan's life in this t wnship was not a long one, being cutoffby death about L824, yel tho i ion years were filled full of ac except, that he was the father of -even children John, Samuel, Joseph, Robert, .lame-,. Betsey and Margaret, most of whom moved West, and have been in this county for many j

Levin Willoughby, one of the earliest settlors, located bere probably as early as L807. William Vincent was a brother-in-law of Levin Willo by, and settled in the same neighborhood about the e. Mr. Willoughby was born on Sharp's [sland, in Chesapea He was a son oi'

Job and Mary (Mills) Willoughby. The grandfather, Job Willoughby, a native of Wales. Levin's parent- soon moved into Maryland and settled near Cambridge, where they died. Their children were Levin, Sally. John, Andrew. Amelia and -lob Levin married Elizabeth Levy, and soon after. with his family and some of his brothers and sisters, emigrated to Ohi< settled near Chillicothe, on the Gov. Worthington farm. After a short residence there, he removed to Madison County and settled in Range Township, in the vicinity of the Shepherds, or where they now reside. This, it is believed, was about L807, and here he resided till his death. He was a farmer through life, and held many of the offices of his township, an early settler of this county, and a good neighbor and worthy citizen. He was the father of five children, of whom one died in infancy - Martha, married Benjamin Badger; Nancy, married Jacob Hull; David, married Elizabeth Kinney; and Levin married, it is believed, a Miss Gray.

Burton Blizzard, a native of Virginia, became an early settler of Ross County, where he married Millie Willoughby, and, about 1807-08, settled in Madison County, Range Township, en land he purchased of William Dunlap at $1 per acre and here he spent his entire life. From time to time, he purchased more land, till he was in possession of 900 acres of good laud. Mr. Blizzard was somewhat of a carpenter, and was often called upon by the new settlers as they located to come and hew puncheons for their cabins. Mr. Blizzard was one of the active, prominent men of that day. He assisted Patrick McLene in much of his surveying, and it is said helped lay out the lots for the town of London. He filled many of the important offices of his township and county. He served as a Justice of the Peace for thirty years, and ae County Commissioner from 1810 to 1839 inclusive. He was largely identified with the establishment, growth and prosperity of .Madison County; a man of more than ordinary ability, firm in character and integrity, he was one of the men for pioneer times, and his life was crowned with prosperity and usefulness. His wife survived him several years, and died at the advanced age of nearly ninety-four years. Their living children are Levin W., who married Clarinda Counts- Sallie, married William Crawford; Betsey, married John Corson; William, married and settled in Missouri; and Mary, now Mrs. Workman, also a resident of Missouri. Those deceased were James, married Mary Carr; Hattie, married Thomas Prosser; and Burton, who married Elizabeth Foster.

Daniel Counts, born in Rockingham County, Va. , November 30, ITT1.': emigrated to Ohio, stopping tirst in Ross County, where he married Elizabeth Walker, and thence, about 1808, removed to Range Township, this county. and settled on the place now owned by Mary A. Thompson, where he spent a long life devoted to farming and stock raising. He started in life poor, having no means, and at first lived in a tent till they could do better. He was very industrious and economical, and was successful from the start, accumulating rapidly, and. at the time of his death owned 2, 500 acres of land in Range Township, also a large amount of Western lands, besides moneys and personal property of large amounts. He passed over sixty' years in this township. He knew what it was to commence poor an 1 endure the full hardship- of pioneer life, and as well he experienced what it was to be wealthy, and able to have all that money could buy; had passed through all these stages and conditions in life. He died January 22, 1873, /it the advanced age of ninety four years. lie was a very eccentric man. and many Btories are told of his peculiarities. He was the father of thirteen children, six now living-- Mary A., now Widow Thompson: Joseph; Christena, now Widow Williamson, residing in Illinois: Louisa, wife of W. A. Koont/.: Daniel A. and Levi. Peter Counts came here from Ross County and herded cattle in 1M"_!. and purchased land and remained as a settler, and engaged largely as a farmer and stock-raiser and became quite wealthy. His widow -till survives, and resides near Danville. Septimus Stuthard, a native of Virginia settled on the place now owned by David

Haskell. Subsequently he moved from there, but remained a resident in this vicinity till his death. He married for his second wife Lovey Salmon. There were three children, whose names wo get as Solomon, Mary and Lovey, the two daughters are deceased; the son still survives. Mr. Stuth ard was a good neighbor-and worthy citizen, and a member of the Methodist Church. His last years were spent in Fayette County, where he died in 1857. Caleb Kamey. a brother-in-law of Mr. Stuthard, probably settled here about same date. Thomas Baldwin, a native of Virginia, settled ;i little east of Danville about KM 1-12. He married Mary Cookus, and were residents here for several years, and during this time his wife died. Subsequently, he moved away. He was a good neighbor and a substantial citizen. He served as a -Justice of the Peace for several years. James Whitesides settled where Danville is now located, and was one of the early teachers of this neighborhood. He married for his second wife Widow Ward, raised a large family of children, all of whom have moved into other counties in the northern part of the State. He served as Justice of the Peace in 1814, and several years subsequently.

John McClimans, a native of Pennsylvania, married Mary Creverston. They emigrated to Ross County. Ohio; thence, about 1812, removed to Madison County and settled in Range Township, on the place now owned by Mrs. Isaac McClimans. and there resided through the remainder of their lives. He was a devoted Christian man, and a life- long member of the Presbyterian Church. They had ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity -Margaret, married AN i Hi am Johnson; William, married Nancy Pearson, and settled in this county, where he spent his life as a farmer: George and John never married, but remained residents here through life, engaged as farmers and stock-dealers; Sarah married Isaac Housman; Samuel married Rachel Pearson, and subsequently removed to Illinois, where he died: Isaac married Mary Parker and settled on the old home place, where he remained through life: he was twice married; his second wife was Elizabeth Clearage; David married Eliza Parker and settled near the home place, where he resided till his death. John Housman, a native of Virginia, married Martha Frost; emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Loss County; thence, about, 1813. removed to Madison County and settled in Range Township. on land now owned by Mrs. Hicks. They had nine children, of whom but one now survives - Mis. Margaret McClimans. Those deceased were William, Isaac, Jacob, Abraham. Samuel, Francis. Mary. Hannah and Martha. Of these, William married Abigail Britton. and spent his life in this county as a farmer till quite advanced in years, when he removed to London and engaged in the business of keeping hotel till his death. He was twice married. By his first wife he had ten children: two now survive - Joseph and Francis. His second wife was Frances Roberts, by whom he had one child, now deceased. Isaac married Sarah McClimans and spent his life as a farmer near the old home place of his father. He also engaged largely as a stock-dealer, and accumulated a large property prior to his death: was a leading, prominent man. and represented this county in the Legislature, and was Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for some years. He was the father of eight children; three now survive Mary, wife of William Baldwin, and resides in Fayette County. Ohio; Martha, wife of Granville Rogers, and resides near Knoxville, Tenn. ; and Margaret, wife of John W. Steel. Jacob .never married, but spent his life on the home farm with his sister Frances, who also remained single, and both died at the old homestead. Mary married Thomas Reeves; Hannah never married:

Martha married William Ray burn; he died, and she married for her second husband Philip McDonald, and remained a resident of this county till her death.

William Johnston, a native of Pennsylvania, married Margaret McOlimans, a native of the same State; emigrated to Ohio and located in Ross County, near Chillicothe, about 1804 05, where they resided till the fall of L813; the> remove:! to Madison County and located in Range Township, on Mud Run, on land now owned by John Johnston's heirs, and here, and on land adjoining, which he subsequently purchased, he resided till bis death, in the fall of 1861. They had eight children who grew to maturity - John; Nancy, who died unmarried; William, married Philista Hall, and on Wednesday. September 27, L882, was celebrated their golden wedding, on which occasion were assembled a large number of the family, children and grandchildren, who had a very sociable and enjoyable time; George married Barbara Beam and settled in this township, where he still resides; Margaret married William Nelson, and. soon after, settled in De AY itt County, 111., where they still reside: Henry married and settled in the same county in Illinois; Hannah married Dr. Joseph Bryant, and resides in the same county; and Joseph, the youngest child, married and settled in the same county. Mr. Johnson, who was one of the pioneers of Range Township, at the time of his locating there had but few neighbors, as the county was only sparsely settled, and he had to endure his full share of pioneer work and hardships. He was a man of firm character and principles, and of undoubted integrity, possessing the entire confidence of his community. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for several years, and died esteemed and respected by a Large circle of friends and acquaintances. John, the eldest son of the above William Johnston, was born in Po^s County March 13, 1806, and was in his seventh year when, with his father, they located in Range Township, and here he grew to manhood, married and settled, and raised a large family of children, and here resided till his death, July 29. 1882, in his seventy-seventh year, having been a resident of the township almost sixtynine years. He was a man of high moral character, a kind neighbor and most worthy citizen, and was held in high esteem in the community where he had lived so long.

Richard Grosslee was born in Sussex County, Del., May P.). 1781. He was married to Mis-; Elizabeth Brown February 11. L803, and in 180-4 emigrated to Ohio and settled in Ross County. In 1816, he settled on his well-known farm, about eight miles south of London, in Range Township, where he remained until L856, when he removed to London, where he died on the 20th of November, 1^7'J.at the advanced age of ninety-one years and six months. His wife, the companion of his youth, was taken from him by death many years since. Subsequently he was married to Mrs. Martin, of Circleville, Ohio. This lady lived but a few years, and they were years of affliction. In is 17. he was united in marriage with Mrs. McFeely, of Circleville. Ohio. By his first wife he had eight sons and four daughters, of whom five now survive -Ketturah, now Widow Warner, residing in London: Sarah A... now Widow Si .'ding in Denver. Colo.; Elizabeth W" . now Widow King, residing at Marion. Ohio; Richard A.., a resident of Otisville. Mich : and John Wesley, a resident of Loda, 111. Mr. G lee was one ,>f the pillars of the Methodist Church, and the founder of the Concord Church of Range Township. Be united with the .Methodist Episcopal Church in L801. Immediately after his marriage, he commenced to hold famih worship, morning and evening, which custom he constantly kept up till within a few days of his death. Over seventy years of his life were devoted to the service of God, in communion with the church of his choice. Very soon after he settled on his farm in this township, he was the active man in organizing a class at his house, and there preaching was had for many years, till the erection of a church building in 1836- 37. He appeared to have but one work and bat one subject of thought, and that was the service of God. He was exemplary in life and tranquil iti death.

Cornelius Johnson, a native of Maryland, married Sarah A:idrews. and, in 1803, with his family, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Eoss County. About 1817-18, he removed to Madison County and settled on the place now owned by Harvey Suver, in Range Township, but, prior to Lis death, he returned to Ross County, where he died. He w;ts twice married, and by the two wives was the father of twenty children, all now deceased but three - Andrew, Noah and Strader; the last two reside in Missouri; Andrew married Mary Dye. a daughter of David Dye, by whom he had eight children; six now survive - Margaret, married Dr. M. F. Garrard, and now resides in London; David; Sarah, married John Fallestine and resides on the place; Eliza, married M. H. Hamilton, resides at Bloom ington, 111.: Myra, resides in Toledo, unmarried: Mary, married L. C. Black, and also resides in Toledo. Mr. Andrew Johnson has spent his life in Range Township, devoting his entire attention to farming. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for more than half a century, and an exhorter in the same for more than twenty years, and was one of the organizing members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Midway. Thomas Athey, a native of Loudoun County. Va., emigrated to Bourbon County, Ky., where lie resi ed several years, and was a minister in the Methodist Church: thence he re moved to Chillicofche, Ohio, and married Diana Abrams. a daughter of Judge Henry Abrams, and, about 1801-02, removed to Fairfield County; then, in the fall of ]818, settled in Range Township. Madison County, on the James Foster farm. Filially he became a resident of Union Township, one and a half miles south of London. He was born November 18, L780, and died October '_'<;. L861. His wife was born June 8. 1777, and died October 8, 1863. They had eleven children ; two now survive - George W. and William A. Athey, Esq. William King was among the early settlers, and was one of the first Justices of the Peace of Range Township, serving with Burton Blizzard in 1813. Others who were considered early settlers, and who have been prominenl ly identified and associated with the growth anil progress of Range Township, are James Foster. Joseph Gill< spie, Benjamin Harrison and Richard Ayers. John Fisher was born near Harper's Ferry, "Va., in November, 1770. H<- married Elizabeth Byers in April, L797, and removed to Ross County. Ohio, in 1809, and, about F519. settled in Range Township, Madison County, where he resided till his death, aged about ninety-three years. He was in the war of 1812; was the founder of the Bethel Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was the first class-leader, the class being organized at his house, which served as the first preaching place of this society. Mr. Fisher was Leader. Trustee and Steward of the society till near the time of his death. He was an honored citizen, a devoted Christian, and a firm friend of Old Bethel Church to the latest hour of his life.

the various improvements, from which spring, as an outgrowth, all towns and villages, so here have sprung into existence two villages. The first to come into existence was Midway. At quite an early day, a road was opened through from the East to the West, passing through this township from oast to west, and which subsequently became a general thoroughfare, over which droves of cattle passed from the West to the Eastern markets. Trav - el and traffic kept increasing, and hotels and stores for their accommodation were soon in demaad to meet these increasing wants. On this great thoroughfare from the West to the East, in Range Township, was a central point, which was half way between Chicago and Philadelphia. It was also a middle point between several of the important towns of nearer proximity. Hence, from these circumstances of its position, geographically considered, it was given the name of Midway.

The land upon which this town is located was owned by William Morris, Frank Thompson and Lockhart Biggs. The exact date of laying off the first lots cannot be definitely stated; but we find on the records at London that it was surveyed and laid off in lots, and that he platted the town, which was recorded June 13, 1833. Also, on January 18, 1838, was recorded Ward's Addition: again, on October 30, 1868, an addition by J. Q. Minshall; on January 6, 186*9, an addition by Cyrus Timmons; on May 8, 1876, an extension by the Council; and on February 15, 1879, an addition by Levi Counts. It appears that there were two small cabins built here before the town was laid out - one on the corner where the hotel now stands, built by William Oliver: and <me on the corner where Mr. Shough now lives. But, after the laying-out of the town, the first house was built by Isaac Newman, on the corner where Hewett Bros.' store now stands, and occupied by John Blue as a hotel. He was succeeded by Joseph Wilmuth, and he by W. T. Garrard ; thence this house ceased to be used longer for hotel purposes; but two others were erected, probably at nearly the same date, the one by Richard Smith being the property now owned by John Timmons. Smith was succeeded by James Williamson, and he by Mr. Jackson; then Thomas Green, Elihu Watkins, and last by David Small, after which the property went into ownership as a private residence. The other was the present hotel building, erected by L. D. Rowe, and kept by John MeElhaney. He was succeeded by the following persons, in the order, respectively, as their names appear: Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins, James Blizzard, A. J. Thacker, Isaac Byers, A. Miller, Miss Caroline Morris, Charles Bailey, A. Miller. Carty Filers, W. C. Wheaton, John Timmons, Benson Hedley. I'.. C. Duff and Isaac X. Fisher, the present incumbent. Thus this enterprise has been carried on by twenty-four different parties, and in an early day, when this great thoroughfare was doing its greatest business with the stock- dealers, and its varied travel and traffic, the hotel trade was an «xtensive business. Here was the great meeting-place of the Eastern stock-buyers and the Western stock sellers, and here they left hundreds of dollars with the Landlords of the hotels for their accommodations. But when the railroads passed through the country, and stock ceased to bo driven in that slow and tedious way, but was transported by steam with such rapidity from the Wesl to the East, then this road, with her numerous hotels. lo>; her prestige, her palmy days were gone, and the attention of the people was turned to other channels of business.

The first Postmaster in Midway was .James Williamson. The first -tore was opened l>\ William Holt, who kept a general stockof merchandise, tinware, etc. The tirsl blacksmith was Mr. Boss, situated either on the Barrett or Johnson property, ih-. Clark was the firsl physician of the town, and he was followed by Drs. Lemon. Garrard, Darling, Atkinson,

Fields, Seaton and others. The present physicians are Drs. Kirkpatrick and Ogan. The town now contains a business representation as follows: Hewett Bros., general store; J. M. Stroup, general store; Rev. John Steele, general store; and Watson Everett, general store; J. H. Asher, drug store; Isaac N. Fisher, hotel; two blacksmiths - Richard Williams and Conn Steele; two wagon-makers - Peter Brow and R. Williams; one undertaker - A. L. Oglesbee; two physicians - -Dr. A. Ogan and Dr. Kirkpatrick; and two veterinary surgeons - William Core and S. Vincent. The present population is about three hundred. It has two churches - Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian; and one school, and one dealer in agricultural implements, buggies, etc. - J. R. Shoaf.

Danville. - The land where Danville now stands was formerly owned by Daniel and Joseph Counts, the latter owning the northeast corner, between the cross-roads, and the former owing the northwest corner, and all south of the Federal road. About 1827 or 1828, a stock-dealer, Daniel Brown, who had been buying stock and driving to the Eastern markets, proposed to open a store at the cross roads. Daniel Counts gave him a piece of land to erect a house upon, and assisted in putting up the building, a hewed- log house, about on the spot where the Housman's store now stands. When the building was completed, Mr. Brown put in a small stock of goods and continued in trade here about three years. He was succeeded by Joseph Counts, a brother of Peter Counts. He continued in trade two or three years, when he removed to Ross County, thence to Springfield, Clark County, and finally to Piqua, where he now resides. Finally, Mr. Daniel Counts gave several lots to individuals for the purpose of erecting houses, and the result was the beginning of a tpwn. From the fact that both the proprietors of the town, Mr. Brown and Mr. Counts, were named Daniel, the new town received the cognomen of Danville. About 1836-37, a building was erected where Edward Ulm now resides, for a hotel. It was built by the McClimans Bros., and the hotel was kept by Andrew Willoughby. He was succeeded by John Justis, and he by a succession of others for several years, this town enjoying a similar trade and prosperity with Midway from the stock dealers and trade and traffic of those early days. The first blacksmith in the town was James Counts, a brother of Peter Counts. The tirst shoe-maker was William Mitchell, a one-legged man, a Frenchman by birth, who was in the war, with Perry on the lakes, was taken prisoner, and subsequently he. with many others, was released and came to Chillicothe, and from there Mr. Mitchell came to Danville. The town was laid out and the plat recorded at London October 18. 1848. The town now contains about one hundred inhabitants: has two general stores - Housman Bros, and William Williamson: one blacksmith - Mr. Ross; one grist-mill (steam), erected in 1881, by Simeon Martin: one tile factory, by Housman Bros.; and one physician - Dr. Deem.

One of tiie early schools of this township was in the David Dye Schoolhouse, on land now owned by Mr. Ford This was a bewed-log house. Frank Flood was the tirst teacher. The next schoolhouse which succeeded this, was the two story frame house in Midway, now owned by John Jeffers, which was used for school purposes till the present large frame was erected, with two rooms, and hall between one room as a primary department and the other for a grammar school.

From the small cabin schoolhousea which were first built by 'the early settlers in the various neighborhoods of Range Township, they are now es-

The people of this township are now giving especial attention to the erection of brick schoolhouses. Although at this time they have but three out of the eleven built of brick, yet we arc informed the School Board has decreed to build one brick house every year until every district is supplied with a good brick house. The Board of Education for 1882 are as follows: Subdistrict No. 1. J. S. Pancake; No. 2, J. W. Kellough; No. 3, Benjamin Emory; No. 4, J. R. Henry: No. 5, W. H. Bowers; No. 6, Wilson Johu son; No. 7, M. L. Yates; No. 8, 1. T. Green; No. 9, Clinton Junk; No. 10. L. \V Blizzard; No. 11. G. L. Alkire; with M. L. Yates as President of the Board.

Enumeration in 1881: Subdistrict No. 1 - Males, twenty- four; females, twenty; total, forty-four. No. 2 - Males, twenty-eight; females, fifteen; total, forty-three. No. 3 - Males, thirty-one; females, thirty-seven; total, sixty-eight. No. 4 - Males, twenty-four; females, eighteen; total, fortv-two. No. 5 - Males, seventeen; females, twelve; total, twenty-nine. No. 6 - Males, seventeen; females, eighteen; total, thirty -five. No. 7 - Males, thirty-seven; females, forty-two; total, seventy-nine. No. 8 - Males, fifteen; females, ten; total, twenty-five. No. 9 - Males, eleven; females, three; total, fourteen. No. 10 - Males, twenty-two; females, twenty; to tal, forty-two. No. 11 - Males, ten; females, eleven ; total, twenty-one. Total. 442; Independent District. Midway. 120; total enumeration of township, 562. Teachers' wages, average - male. $35; female, $32. School funds for 1881, $5,015.41; paid for tuition, $2,921.46; incidentals, $2,444.- 15: Independent District Midway, total school funds. $960.82: paid for tuition. $726.97; incidentals. $90.28.

" The first church organized in Range Township was probably the Methodist Episcopal Church of Midway. The first preaching-point was at the house of William M. Linton, where it appears a class was early formed, probably about 1812-14, consisting of the following persons: David Dye and wife, Joseph Pancake and wife, Lockhart Biggs and wife. Elizabeth Counts and Septimus Stuthard and wife. These nine persons, it is believed, formed the first class, with David Dye and Joseph Pancake as Class- Leaders. But soon after, the following persons were added: Thomas Hughs and wife. William Chappell and wife. Andrew Johnson and wife, Zachariah Adams and wife, Thomas Bethard and wife, Lemuel Bethard and wife, and Isaac Fisher and wife. Mr. Linton's house continued to be a preaching point until the building of the David Dye Schoolhouse, aftei which that was used for church purposes until about 1844; aframe building erected at .Midway, which was occupied for church purposes till the election of the present church edifice. Among the first ministers who preached at this point were Rev. Nation, Rev. William Sutton. Rev. Young. Rev. Morrow and Rev. John Stewart. The present membership is ninetyseven, with William Bonham and J. H. Asher as Class- Leaders; A. B. Core and R. F. Williams, Stewards; A. 11 Core, R. F. Williams, Daniel Greenich, Dr. A. Ogan, William Bonham, Jacob Eeavner and Jacob Mc Daniel, Trustees; and Rev. Isaac Mackey. Pastor. The parsonage for this circuit is located here. A lot adjoining the church property on the north was purchased, and in the summer of L868 a large, two-story frame house ected. by Thoma6 Hughs, at a cost of about $2,000. The house con- tains seven rooms, with a porch and kitchen; is well-finished and pleasantly located. J. S. Pancake, Washington Withrow and A. B. Core constituted the Building Committee.

The Concord M. E. Church, - In 1816-17, a class was organized at the house of Richard Gosslee. consisting of the following persons: Richard Gosslee and wife, Charles Holland and wife, Thomas Dawson and wife, and a few others whose names could not be ascertained, with Richard Gosslee as Class-Leader. The house of Mr. Gosslee continued as a preaching-place till in 1887, when the present church building was completed, and. in due form, dedicated to service. In I860, this church was remodeled and repaired, and rededicated to service by a sermon preached by liev. A. B. See. Some of the early preachers who held services at the house of Mr. Gosslee were Rev. Jacob Hooper, James B. Findley, William Findley and Williain West-lake. The present membership is thirty-eight, with Samuel Gillespie as Class-Leader: Stewards, Joseph Gillespie and John Shepherd; Trustees. Joseph Gillespie. Andrew Shepherd, John Shepherd, John Emory, Isaiah Gillespie, Milton Shepherd and Samuel Gillespie.

Bethel M. E. ( 'hurch, - This society was organized at the house of John Fisher, by Rev. Mr. Maley, in the year 1820 or 1821. The class consisted of the following persons: John Fisher and wife, Elizabeth Fisher, John Morris, Elizabeth Morris. Robert Farrar, Isabel Cox, James Fisher, Sarah Fisher and Prudence Steel. It is believed this first class cousisted of ten members. They continued to have preaching at the house of Mr. Fisher, and in summer in the groves of the neighborhood, till the erection of the church, which it is believed was about 1847-^8. These facts of the early organization of this church have been kindly furnished by Mrs. Lydia Brown, the oldest member of Bethel society, and the only surviving daughter of John Fisher now residing in this county. She resides on the old homestead place of her father, and has been a member of Bethel Church nearly all her life. Present membership of the church is eighty-five, with fourteen probationers. Class- Leaders, James S. Pancake. Joseph S. Martin and Christian Wissler; Stewards, James S. Pancake and J. B. Chenoweth; Trustees, J. B. Chenoweth, J. S. Pancake, Allison Grim, Christian Wissler, William A. Johnston, J. S. Martin, J. P. Foster and S. W. Brown.

These three churches whose history is given above, with the Newport Church, whose history is given in the history of Paint Township, and the society formed which holds its services at the Foster Schoolhouse, constitute the Midway Circuit, embracing five societies, with five preaching stations. The membership at the Foster Schoolhouse, Oak Run Township. is at present writing seventeen, with D. B. Foster as Class-Leader; total membership of the circuit, 320, and twenty five probationers. This circuit is embraced in the Ohio Conference.

wife, Margaret Robinson, Mrs. Charlotte Withrow and Mrs. Sarah Corbiti; and soon after, under the preaching of Rev. James Dunlap, the following names were added as members: Louisa Counts. George Byers, Samuel Withrow, Barney Evans and wife and his father, Catharine Evans, Rebecca Linson and Nancy Dye. with Samuel Withrow as the first Elder.

Services were first held in the Methodist Church, then for some time they were held in the schoolhouse. and then again in the Methodist Church. Rev. C. W. Finley was their first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. James Dunlap. Then came Rev. James Mclntire, Rev. Jones^Rev. David

Kerr, Rev. George Brown and Rev. S. S. Garmo. Under the ministry of Rev. 'James Mclntire, the church edifice was erected in 1863. The present condition is good, with Dr. Findley Kirkpatrick, Maxwell Murray and Robert Harper as Elders. In the erection of this church, a serious accident occurred. The girder gave way, precipitating several workmen to the ground, by which William Swank was instantly killed, and John Wonderland had his thigh broken in two places, and others more or less injured. The wounded were attended by Dr. Seaton, of Midway. This church, when first built, was erected with a steeple seventy feet high. In March, 1866, the tall spire was struck by lightning, and the whole building was much damaged. Two corner-stones of the church were thrown out from under the building to quite a distance. In repairing the house, the steeple was built in its present form.

There is comparatively little to be said upon this subject in Range Township, as the majority of the mills that are or have been in the township have been portable mills, or mills of a temporary character. Many of the early settlers would erect a cheap temporary saw-mill on some stream or creek, to be run by water-power, and. as the supply of water was only adequate to run the mill a short time, just when there was high water, the balance of the time the mill was useless. And there has never been a railroad within the township to give facilities for shipping, or any great value to the lumber of this section: but this township is strictly an agricultural and stock-raising country, and these interests have absorbed the attention and capital of her people, to the general seclusion of everything else. At quite an early day, probably about 1835, William Holt erected a steam saw-mill at Midway, on the Armstrong lot, which was probably one of the first steammills in the county. This mill was run a few years and removed to Newport, and there run several years. There are a few portable saw-mills, which move from place to place and do a neighborhood work, but the principal and permanent mill of this township is the grist-mill at Danville, erected by Simeon Martin in 1881 . This must prove a great convenience to the people of this community, as it is centrally located, and the only one in the township.

This township is well supplied with good roads, and all the main lines are free turnpikes. Commencing in the western part of the township, running in a north and south direction through the township, is the London & Midway pike and Bloomingsburg road. Further east, near the center of the township, passing entirely through the township, in the same general direction and almost parallel with the first-mentioned, is the London & Bloomingsburg pike. Further east still is another road, branching oft' from the London pike above Newport, and taking a general southeastern course, connects in the eastern part of the township with the Federal road near Mud Run. And lastly, and the principal east and west road of the township, i> thr Federal toad. This road runs almost directly east and west through tin' township, with about one-third of the township lying south of the road, and the two-thirds lying north of it. At the time the General Government proposed to build a turnpike from the East to the West, from Maryland tu St. Louis, her officers first viewed and surveyed this road for that great thoroughfare; hut subsequently another survey was made north of London about four miles, which survey was finally adopted, and the great National mad built, the acme of magnitude of improvement of that day and age. And from the fact that the Federal Government surveyed and laid out this road, it has ever since been known as the Federal road. And, although for many years it was merely a mud road yet it became a lively thoroughfare from the West to the East for immense droves of cattle and stock and of general travel. It is said that, before the days of railroads, it was no uncommon thing to see as many as two thousand cattle pass over that road in a day on their way to Eastern markets.

Leanore Lodge, No. 512, F. & A. M., Midway, was declared in working order under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, granted October 26, 1875. with the following appointed officers: Jeriah Swetland, W . M. ; A. P. Hewett, S. W. ; D. T. Yates, J. W.; Henry McOann, Treasurer; S. J. Paulin, Secretary; Thomas S. Davis, S. D. ; John W. Kellough, J. D. ; John H. Peters, Tiler. The charter was granted and the lodge instituted November 2, 187C>, by O. A. B, Senter, proxy for the Worthy Grand Master of Columbus, Ohio, with the following charter members: Jeriah Swetland, A. P. Hewett, Henry McCann, S. J. Panlin, David T. Yates, Frank AVoosley, Thomas S. Davis, John R. Griffith, John W. Kellough, John H. Peters and James H. Horrell. Officered as follows: A. P. Hewett, W. M.; Henry McOann, S. W. ; David T. Yates, J. W. ; J. W. Green, Treasurer; S. J. Paulin, Secretary, Thomas S. Davis, S. D.; Fred L. Wat kins, J. D.; R. F. Williams and John H. Peters, Stewards; and Daniel Greenich, Tiler. The lodge now numbers forty-seven members, officered as follows: Ambrose Ogan, W. M. ; Henry McCann, S. W. ; Lewis Counts, J. W. ; Mark L. Yates, Treasurer; S. A. Ireland, Secretary; W. H. Proffitt, S. D. ; John Laytham, J. D. ; William H. Gillmore, Tiler; R. F. Williams and R. L. Watkins, Stewards. The regular meetings of the lodge are on Thursday evening, on or preceding full of moon.

Remarkable Storms

In June, L860, a severe wind and rain storm passed just south of Midway, from west to east, destroying considerable timber and fences, but doing little damage to buildings. In July of the same year, another severe storm passed north of Midway, taking the same general direction, but more destructive than the former on the timber and fences, and it moved a twostory frame house of William Jones from three to four inches on its foundation. Also, some ten or twelve years since, a wonderful hail-storm, accompanied with wind, passed ever the southern portion of Range Township, doing much damage to houses and other property, the stones not only breaking windows, but even split the weather boarding on the houses Some of the stones were said to measure eleven inches in circumference. Benjamin Harrison's house was especially damaged by the storm.

Trustees. - L849 51, Levin Willoughby. John Foster. and 1. B. Fisher; 1852,1. B. Fisher, Levin Willoughby and llollin Wilson: L853, Levin Willoughby, I. B. Fishor and Jesse Watson; 1854, Jesse Watson. Levin Willoughby and Seaman Baldwin; L855 57, Levin Willoughby, Jesse Watson and Seaman Baldwin; 1858, Jesse Watson, I. B. Fisher and Joseph H. Ohenoweth; 1859, Joseph H. Chenoweth, David McClimans and James

Hornbeck; 1860, Peter Counts. Cyrus Timmons and John Johnson; 1861, Peter Counts, John Johnson and L. S. Baldwin; 1862, L. S. Baldwin, Peter Counts and Jesse Watson; L863, Peter Counts, Cyrus Timmons and William McClintick; 1864, Jesse M. Linson, William McClintick and L. S. Baldwin; 1865, J. M. Linson, William McClintick and Isaac Reeves; 1866. Cyrus Timmons, John Johnson and Benjamin Harrison; 1867-68, Cyrus Timmons, John Johnson, Sr., and Benjamin Harrison; 1869, John Fallestine, D. C. Yates and Peter Counts; 1870, Peter Counts, Batteal Harrison and Cyrus Timmons; 1871-72, Cyrus Timmons, Batteal Harrison and John McClimans: 1873, Batteal Harrison, John Johnston, Jr., and Levin Blizzard; 1874-75, Batteal Harrison, John Johnston and Immer Barrett, 1876, John F. Johnston, John Wingfield and Solomon McClimans; 1877, Solomon McClimans, John Kil lough and John Wingfield; 1878-79, Solomon McClimans, Immer Barrett and J. M. Johnston; 1880-81, Solomon Mc- Climans, W. A. Johnston and Nathan Shepherd; 1882, Solomon McClimans, W. A. Johnston and J. R. Wingfield.

Constables. - 1849, Thomas Bethard and I. Norman: L850, J. Brock and L. McClimans; 1851, P. McDaniel and L. G. McClimans; 1852, L. G. McClimans and A. F. Wright; 1853, James Haggard and W. A. Koontz; 1854-55, William Alspaugh and Thomas Bethard; 1856. Thomas Bethard and A. V. Chrisman: 1857. William Alspaugh and Thomas Bethard; 1858. Hugh Workman and George Housman; 1859, Thomas Bethard and Hugh Workman; 1800-61, William Alspaugh and J. B. Housman; 18(52-63, William Alspaugh and Philip .McDaniel: 1864, James Reeves and William Ellars; 1865, B. F. Badger and M. W. Cannon; i860, John Johnson, Jr., and E. C. McClimans; 1867. James tteeves and John Johnson, Jr.; 1868, William Corson and Moses Foster; 1869, B. F. Badger and John C. Counts; 1870, Joshua Ross and James Reeves; L871, John W. Sells and C. P. Jeffries; 1872, John W. Sells and Hugh Gibblin; L873, Hugh Gibblin and D. Bragg; LSI I. Hugh Gibblin and James Reeves; 1S75. Joshua Ross and J. R. Stroup; 1876 77, Jacob McDaniel and Joshua Ross; 1878-82, Thomas W. Wright and Jacob .McDaniel.

Chapter Viii

THIS township occupies the extreme northwestern~corner* of Madison County, and is one of the smallest of the fourteen townships comprising said county. It is also one of the most regular, in its contour and general form, being nearly a perfect parallelogram, while nearly all of the other townships of the county are remarkable for their irregularity in shape. Pike is bounded north by Union County, east by Darby Township, south by Monroe and Somerford Townships and west by Champaign County. It was one of the early constituted townships of the county, as upon the records at London we find the following account of its erection, bearing date September 5, 1814: "At a meeting of the Commissioners, present Joshua Ewing and William Gibson, ordered, that the following bounds compose a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Pike. Beginning where the State road intersects the north boundary of Madison County and running from thence with said road, so as to include the same till it intersects the Urbanaroad; thence southwardly on a line half a mile east of Little Darby, till it intersects Jefferson Township line at Mark's survey; thence to Peter Paugh's, southeast corner; thence westwardly with Deer Creek Township line to Champaign County line, and with said county line to the northwest corner of Madison County, and thence with the line between Madison and Delaware to the beginning." In the erection of Union County in 1820, a portion of the above -described territory was embraced in that county, and consequently the north boundary line was changed and Pike made smaller in territory. Again, on March 4, 1889, another change was made in the township of Pike, as follows: " At a meeting of the Commissioners of Madison County, ordered that the following boundaries compose the township of Pike (as surveyed January 24, 1839, by William B. Lwin), to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Madison County, thence running on the line between Madison and Union Counties, east by the variation six miles to an elm, corner to Darby Township, Madison County; thence with the line of Darby Township south three miles and 106 poles to four elms; thence south 80 degrees west (by the needle) six miles and thirty poles, to the original southeast corner uf Pike Township, in the line of Champaign County; thence with said line north four miles to the beginning."

The surface of this township is level, except along the streams and small creeks, much of it being prairie and oak openings. All that portion between Little Darby and Barron Kun extending to the north line of the township, is very level and a beautiful country: also, all west of Barroa Run and between that stream and Spring Fork is the same. On the Little Darby and along Barron Kun and Spring Fork, the surface is quite uneven, and in a few places to some degree hilly. The soil of the level and prairie portions of the township consist principally of a black loam, with here and there a locality of clay and loam. It is very deep and rich, naturally pro- during an exuberahl growth of grass and vegetation. Alongthe creeks and streams the soil is principally clay, but very strong and productive, so that throughout the township wo may say the soil is very rich and fertile. The subsoil is clay and gravel, with usually a third stratum of blue clay and disintegrated limestone. The township from its first settlement lias been peculiarly adapted to stock raising, and that business has always received a large share of attention from its most wealthy citizens, and they have given considerable attention to the improving and raising of fine blooded stock. But as the lands become divided up into smaller farms, as the tendency is from year to year, and the soil better ditched, tiled and drained, so it be comes better adapted to the cultivation of all the grains. Tile factories are now becoming very numerous throughout this county and State, and, in fact, all over the country wherever the soil needs underdraining; Hie abundant uso of tile is producing remarkable results. Much of the low, flat prairie lands, which a few years ago was almost useless from the great surplus of water in them, and in which stock would almost mire, and which were never attempted to be plowed or cultivated in grain, are now by this process of tiling becoming some of the best wheat and corn-growing lands in the county. This township and this county, which, but a few years ago scarcely produced grain enough for the home consumption, is now export ing vast quantities of both wheat and corn, and the time is not far distant when the county will rank among the first grain-producing counties of the State. The forests and timber of this township are similar to those of the other townships and the count \ generally. On the creeks and small streams it was generally heavily timbered. On the creek bottoms were a consider able quantity of walnut, and back from the creeks and on the rolling lands were white, black, red and burr oak, hickory, elm. adi and some beech and cherry. On the level lands were the oak openings, of which the leading timber was burr oak. with some considerable hickory and a less amount of white oak, elm and a few other varieties. One noticeable and peculiar feature of the timber of this township, which appears to be a common condition of most of the country composed largely of prairie and timber, where the general course of the streams is south, southeast, is. that- for a short distance on the east side of the creeks, the timber was of a much heavier and denser growth than it was westward from the creeks. And on the east side of the Darby, in particular, was where the beech and a few other varieties were found and not much in other localities. It is quite probable the prin cipal reason of the limber being less heavy and dense on the west side of the creeks, was in consequence of the yearly fires which swept over the prairies, which destroyed the undergrowth and more or less checked the growth of the larger timber; and as these fires usually raged from west to east, these streams or creeks served as a barrier which the fire could not overleap; or, if it did, it was so checked in its power that it would burn with much less violence and destructive power until it would get some distance again from the creek, when, from being fanned by the breezes and increased combustible matter, it would again sweep forward with great velocity and violence until again checked by another stream, or the want of combustible matter to keep up the flame.

Although this township was not settled quite as early as some other portions of the county, yet we find them quite early taking possession of the lands along the streams where the more elevated and drier lands were tenable. But many of these were mere squatters; being possessed of no means, they never purchased any land in this locality, but remained here a short time and enjoyed the pleasures of hunting where there was an abundance of deer, turkeys and other game, made some improvements and quietly enjoyed their possessions without, any great amount of investment. Finally, as other settlers came in and purchased the lands, or as they became dissatisfied, they moved away to enjoy other homes and hunting-grounds. Some of these, though not owners of their homes, or possessed of wealth, yet were good, moral and religious men and women and good citizens, and exerted quite an influence in forming and molding the general character of the community. Many of these having resided here but a short time, jmd the older of the pioneers who at that time knew them well, having passed to "that bourne whence no traveler returns," leaves but little source for us at this late day to gain any special or exact knowledge of them, especially as to positive date of their settling here; but believing some of this class of persons to have been among the first settlers of this township, we shall give their names with what little we could learn concerning them, without giving the date of settlement, and will call them

Oliver and Harris Jaynes settled on the Little Darby, near where Henry King afterward settled. It is believed they were among the first who came into this township. Farther up the Darby, near the northeast corner of the township, settled a family of Keyes. Two brothers, Edsel and Samuel Carr, settled on Barron Run, near where Newton Hunt now resides. Samuel was quite an active man, and, it appears, a very moral and upright man, and a leading, active worker in the Methodist Church in its first organization in this township. A family by the name of Whitman, the head of which it is believed was Solomon, settled on Barron Run, on land now owned by Charles Phellis. He never purchased land there, and, after a few years' residence, moved away. Samuel, Isaac and Daniel Allen, three brothers, settled on Barron Run, where they subsequently purchased small tracts of land. Samuel was a local preacher in the Methodist Church and quite a prominent man of that day. About 1830, it is supposed, they moved into Union County. A Mr. Burrell, a blacksmith by trade, was also a very early settler on Barron Run. but soon moved away. A Mr. Dockum, believed to be a native of Canada, settled on the Aaron Weaver place, near the mouth of Barron Run, at a very early date, and there he resided till his death, and his body was interred upon the place, and was probably the first person buried in what is now known as the Weaver Burying -Ground. The following were his children: William, who married Nancy Jones, and settied adjoining the homo place, but subsequently moved West, where hw died; one daughter married Mason Jones, and finally settled near Califor nia. this county, when' she died; James married a Miss Clement, and settled in this township, thence removed to Darby Township, Union County, where he died; Boardman married Miss Tullis and settled in this township and resided till his death; and one other daughter, who married Allen Jones, and resided in this county several years, thence moved West. John Rathlxirn was an early settler on Barron Run, and was a Methodist preach er; also practiced as a steam doctor. It is believed he was the organizer of the Methodist Church thai in an early day existed on Barron Run for several years, of which he was a main pillar and support. He had the following children: Charles, who i> now a resident of the West and is a practic ing physician; Levi, who was for some time a oaerchr.nl in Mechanicsburg, thence removed West, hut on,, of his daughters is still a resident of Me- chanicsburg; Nelson, who is now a minister and resides in Iowa; Abigail, died single; Sarah, married Luke Clemens, and settled in the south part of the county; and Harmon, who settled in Iowa, where lie still resides.

John Erwin settled in the northwest corner of Pike Township aboxit 1812. and purchased land there, for which a deed was recorded in September, 1814. He came here from Southern Ohio, and was probably the first settler in the west part of Pike Township, and he remained here till his death. He followed farming and slock raising, was a man of excellent character, plain and unassuming in his habits, a devoted Presbyterian in faith, and a substantial ami worthy citizen. He had a large family of children, who nearly all died early in life with consumption. One sou, Amzi, or Amazi, settled on the home place and lived to quite an advanced age; he died May 11, 1^7'.*. aged eighty years. Several of his children reside ia this vicinity. On the building of the railroad from Springfield to Delaware it passed through the corner of the township and his laud, and a station was established called Erwin. Joseph Mitchell, a native of Vermont, emigrated with his family to Ohio, and settled in the southwest part of Pike Township, on land now known as the Harrington farm, about 1812-13; he purchased 900 acres of land, became an extensive farmer and stock-raiser; he resided here till quite advanced in years, when he removed West, where he died. He was a leading, active man in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a minister in the same during a greater part of his life, and devoted much of his time to itinerant work, traveling over many different States, and was a companion of Lorenzo Dow for several years. He was the father of the following children: Joseph, Newman. William and Abner: the first two are deceased, and William and Abner are located in the West; the latter served in the late war of the rebellion.

Claudius Mitchell, a brother of Joseph, of whom we have just written. and a son of Ensign Mitchell, of Champaign County, settled in the township on land known as the Henry Weaver place, about 1815 16; this situation is on the Urbana cV. Liverpool pike, near the west line of the township. We have obtained quite a full ace »unt of the manner of his starting out in life, and the hardships and trials he endured; and as an illustration of pio neer life, we here give it a space in Cue history of Pike Township, that not only his descendants many years hence may read and know how their worthy ancestor lived and labored, but that all future generations may have the means of knowing, so far as the pen of the historian is able to portray it, the true picture of pioneer life.

Claudius Mitchell was born in Vermont in 1794, of poor but respectable parents, who. after a tew years, removed to the State of New York, thence to Pennsylvania, from there to Kentucky and thence to Southern Ohio, and, in L815, to Madison County. During these years of pioneer itineracy, he arrived at his majority, but these were years of rough, yet it seems pleasant, experiences, to young Claudius, and he enjoyed, with his favorite dog and unerring rifle, the sportsof frontier life: ever on the chase for, or in mortal combat with, the wounded boar or stolen cub, and often came to " hand and hand " with the wild buck deer of the forests, which then abounded widi all kinds of wild game and animals. Consequently, Claudius had no opportunities of obtaining even a common school education; did not even learn to read or write. The first pair of pants he ever wore were made by his faithful Vermont mother, who* manufactured them out of hair combed from their own cow in the time of she Iding in the spring, mixed and carded with common flax tow, all done by hand, and spun by hand and knit into a pair of pants, all being done by her own hands. The first pair of shoes he ever wore was when he was ten years of age, for which he earned the money to pay for them by taking his ax and hand-sled and cut and hauled wood a distance of several miles. At the age of twelve years, he performed a mans work cutting cord-wood and working at the Kanawha Salt \Yorks. 'As stated above, in 1815 he came to Madison County, and, in 1816, he married Nancy Lambert, of Brown County, On the 1st day of February, he took leave of liishome and parents, whom he had served faithfully for many years, and commenced life for himself. The first day's work for himself he took his ax and maul, and cut and split 350 rails, for which he received 25 cents per hundred, but not in cash, but in corn at 25 cents per bushel, which gave him three and one-half bushels of corn. The second day he made 250 rails, and took his pay in tallow and fat meat. On February 7, he took a lease of land on Spring Fork, and at once commenced to build a cabin, with the snow then six inches deep. He soon had his cabin up and a roof on the same, and the next day he and his young wife moved into it, cleared away the snow and built a fire on the ground; then to work thev went in earnest to fit up the new home. At a late hour that night they laid down some loose clapboards on the snow, on which they spread their scantv bedding, and then before retiring to rest they knelt down upon the icy-cold ground by two blocks, their only chairs, and there offered their sono-s and prayers to the God of the Universe. The only utensil they had for cooking was an old iron pot, and their table-ware consisted of two broken knives and forks and two old pewter spoons. He had one two-year-old heifer, upon which the tax was S cents, and he had more difficulty to raise the money and pay that 8 cent tax than any tax he has ever paid. Since that time, he has paid his $300 tax with perfect ease. He resided in this township for many years; finally, he removed with his family into Champaign County, where he has since resided. He was twice married. By his first wife he had seven children - Sarah, Lavinia, Elizabeth. Nancy. Alvira. Chandler and Joshua. Mrs. Mitchell died, and he married for his second wife Mary Ann Heed; by her he had one child, deceased. Mr. Mitchell now resides in Median icsburg, retired from all active business; is in the ninetieth year of his age. and has all his business matters fully settled up. with no temporal affairs to trouble him. He is as erect and straight as a vouno- man of twenty, is in comfortable health, cheerful and happy, and is patiently awaiting the summons of his Master that he may see the King in His beauty.

George Van Ness, a native of New Jersey, married Eleanor Van Lear, a native of Holland: (hey emigrated to Ohio prior to its becoming a State, and settled in Butler County. In January, 1813-14, they removed to Madison County and settled on the Little Darby, in the northwest corner of this township, on the place now owned by John Van Ness, and here he resided until his death. March 22, 1832. He was a true pioneer and experienced the ron<*h side of life. Indians were his neighbors, and deer, \\ ill hogs and game of all kinds were in abundance. About 1820, Mr. Van Ness ejected a grist-mill, a three-story frame, run by water-power. The mill only ran about three years, when the dam washed away and was never repaired or used afterward. Mr. Nan Ness served through the war of the Revolution, and was with den. Washington at the memorable Valley Forge. He was the father of "the following children: John, who married Rachel Nichols. and settled near the same place, but subsequently moved Wesl and died in Iowa: Susannah, married Stacy Storer. and settled in Highland County.

Ohio, where she died, aged nearly one hundred years: Catharine, married John Payne, first settled in this township, thence in Highland County, and finally in Illinois, where she died; George, married Sarah Britton, settled in Butler County, on the old Van Ness farm, thence removed to Seneca County, Ohio, thence moved West and is now a resident of Indiana; Judith, married William Storer, and settled in Highland County, where they now reside; Peter, married Polly Neff, and settled in Logan Comity. Ohio, and died there; Cornelius, married Rebecca Bower, and settled on the old home place of his father, where he still remains, and has now spent seventy years of his life on this farm: Daniel, married Elizabeth Yearns, and resides in Logan County. Ohio: and Mary, married Henry McCumber, and soon moved West and settled in Illinois, where she died.

George Jones, a native of Virginia, settled on land now owned by Mr. Guy, about 1815-18. He was a leading, active man in the Methodist Church ; was also quite a politician, and after the Morgan trouble in New York he became an active anti-Mason. He served in the war of the Revolution. His children were Elizabeth, who married Michael Roseberry; William, who was a miller in Mechanicsburg for many years: Mason and Allen, who moved West: Nancy, married William Dockum, and settled in the West; and Charles, who also went West.

Henry King was a native of Pennsylvania and iirst settled near Chillicothe; thence, about L818 20, removed to the west bank of the Little Darby, on the farm since known as the Joseph King place: here he resided till his death. He was an intelligent and a well-educated man, a wheelwright by trade and a skillful mechanic, and to this trade and to farming he devoted his life; was a kind neighbor and a worthy citizen. His children were Joseph, who married Amanda Tarpening, and settled and died on the old home place: William F., who married Miss Bigelow, daughter of Dr. Bigelow. of Plain City, he is now deceased; one daughter died young: Hannah, married Daniel Brooks, settled in Darby Township and resided till the spring of 1882, when they removed to Kentucky; Henry J., married a daughter of John Mitchell, and settled in Darby Township. Union County, Ohio, but now resides at Marysville; Benjamin, married Miss Keyes, and settled in Darby Township, where he died at an early age: and Sarah iv., who married Newton Hunt,

George Weaver, also a native of Pennsylvania, settled on the place now owned by Aaron Weaver about L817-18, as 'we find his deed recorded in January, 1818. He was married to Elizabeth Hempleton. Their children were Jacob, who married Polly Nagley, and settled on the home farm where he resided till his death; Solomon, married Lydia N'iles, and settled near the home place, but subsequently removed to Illinois and settled near Clinton, where he now resides; one daughter married David Morris, but is now deceased: John, married Elizabeth Morse, and settled and resides in this township: Elizabeth, married John H. Surfns. and settled here first, but subsequently removed West and now resides in Illinois; George, married a Miss Morse, and resides in Illinois; Joseph, married a Miss Cobbler, and settled in the West: David, settled in the West: Mary, married John Sterritt, and settled in Monroe Township, but subsequently removed to the WCst. Mr. George Weaver, the father of th^s large family, was one of those industrious, thoroughgoing Pennsylvania!! farmers, who knew how to make money and how to invest all his surplus capital, and the result was that he became owner of 3,000 acres of tine land.

the township on Land since owned by Joseph Ware, about 1814-15. He was a very successful farmer and a good citizen. He raised a large family of children and gave them a good education for that day. His children were Samuel, Reuben, Nancy, Benjamin, John, Alden, Lorenzo D., Leonard and Azro. Reuben and Leonard H. became physicians, both now deceased, in fact, all the children are deceased. Benjamin was quite a prominent, active man of this community, and resided the greater part of his life in Monroe Township, and held many of the offices of his township.

Abraham Johnson, a native of Virginia, settled on the place now owned by William Guy about 1814-15, as the record shows the deed for his land to be recorded in June, 1815. He was a good neighbor and a reliable citizen. In those days, it was a custom to bleed people in the spring of the year, to take away the "bad blood," which had accumulated during the winter, and. although it was probable that he was neither a physician nor surgeon, yet he was skilled in the art of bleeding people, and many were accustomed to apply to him to perform this work. He married Hannah Roseberry, and resided here for several years, but he subsequently removed to Union County and died there.

Andrew Alden was a native of New York or New England, settled on land near Mr. Mann, in the spring of 1817. He was a very active, industrious man, and a good citizen. He married Elizabeth Manville, by whom he had the following children: Chester, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Stanford, George, Eli and Prince, all deceased but Stanford and Prince; the former settled in the West; the latter resides at Mechanicsburg.

Levi Patrick, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Pike Township on land now owned by Lafayette Newman, on Christmas Day, 1817, where he resided till his death, February 22, 1855. He married Clarissa Patrick, also a native of Massachusetts; she died December 12, 1868. Their children were M. Young, Eliza, Mary, Levi M., C. F., John P., Clarissa Ann and Olive. M. Young married Fidelia Cartmill, a native of Kentucky, and settled near the home place, where he resided till he located on his present place, in 1853, where he has since resided and has held nearly all the offices of his township; Eliza never married, and died in the spring of 1881; Mary married Nathaniel Griffin, and is now deceased; Levi moved to Missouri, where he married and settled, but died a few years ago; John P. married Emma Converse, and settled near the home place, but subsequently removed to Union County, where he died; Clarissa Ann died quite young; Olive married Henry Brown, and settled in Champaign County, where they still reside.

Michael Roseberry, a native of Virginia, settled on Spring Fork, on land now owned by William H Guy, about 1822-24; here he resided about ten years, when he purchased 350 acres, known as the Henry Guy farm, and there resided till his death, about 1859. He was a prominent, active farmer and stock-dealer, had the confidence of the people, and filled many of the offices of his township. He married Elizabeth Jones, a native of Virginia; they had the following children: Ellen, married Ira Stacy; Permelia, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth, is now Widow Fox; Julia, married and moved West; Joseph, deceased; Ebenezer, married Miss Carter; Hannah, deceased; and Jane, deceased.

Darius Burnham was born in Hampton, Conn., May 10, 1791, married Lucrotia Hunt September 1 '_', IS I1,), emigrated to Ohio and settled in Pike Township, Madison County, in the fall of 1820, on land where Orlo Stoddard now resides, and here he remained through life. Here he began in a log cabin - true pioneer style. To his first purchase of land ho subsequently added more from time to time, till at the time of his death he owned about 760 acres of good land. He became the owner of the hind upon which Liverpool is now located, and laid out and platted the town, which was given the name of Liverpool and had the same recorded at London. Mr. Burnham was an active, stirring business man; he engaged quite largely in raising stock and dairy business and was a true, public spirited man, kind and benevolent, ever ready to aid all enterprises and improvements for the general public good. He served in nearly all of the offices of his township, and was a Justice of the Peace for many years. He died August 10, 1846. His wife was born February 18, 171*8. and died May 22, L878. They had eight children - John H. . Henry. Anna L.. Emiline S.. Darius D., Achsa M.. Lucius A. and Flora B., all now surviving except Achsa M.. who died at Plain City.

George Fullington, a native of Vermont, born August IN. L769, married Eebecca Greeley, and. in 1813, they emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Union County, where they resided about eight years, and removed to Madison and settled on land now owned by Charles Phellis. Esq., where he resided till his death, July 24, 1835. His wife survived him several years. Their children were Sarah, who married Alfred Carpenter, and moved to Illinois, where she died; Moses, married Harriet Guy, and settled on the old Fullinofon place, in Union County, where he died; Clarriet, married William Guy, and died in 1827; Jefferson, settled in Illinois, where he married Eleanor English, and resided there till his death, and his body was brought back and interred in the Guy Cemetery; Adelaide became the sec ond wife of William Guy; Mary, married Truman Kimball, and raised a family of ten children, and is now deceased; Abigail, married Charles Phellis. Esq., is deceased; and Selina, married John Burnham, and now resides in Mechanicsburg. Mr. Fullington was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and still followed his trade to seme extent after settling here, but his main attention was given to farming and the stock business, which he car ried on quite extensively. He was a man of substantial character and undoubted integrity, honorable in all his business transactions, kind-hearted and benevolent and a great friend to the poor, and to all who needed his aid in means or influence.

These families of whom we have given the above history embrace the majority of the early settlers of Pike Township. Many others have come in and settled at a more ret nil date, some of whom are among the leading business men of the township, and who have taken a leading and active part in the progress and impr< \< n < nts of the township, and who are fully identified with its interests. Among these we mention Charles Phellis, Esq.. who is the largest land-owner and stock-dealer in the township, a man of high and marked ability. wh< se honor and character stand untarnished, and is one of the township's 1 est and m< st worthy citizens. In the biographical department of this work will be found the history of many of the present prominent and enterprising families of Pike Township, to which we would refer the reader for further information.

Towns Am' Business

There is but one town. or. more properly, village, in the township. But before writing of it the business interests of the past will carry us back to about the year 1831-32, when one Capt. Andrews, of Chillicothe, located on the Worthington road, just west of John "Weaver's place, where he pur- chased about 1,800 acres of land. He was quite wealthy, and soon after locating he erected a building, purchased a stock of goods and opened out a store, which was the hrst ever in the township. His place he named the Rosedale farm, taking its name, we presume, from the post office, which he obtained the establishment of at his place about 1832, under the name of Rosedale Post Office, of which he became the first Postmaster. Subsequently, Capt. Andrews died, and he was succeeded by A. Simpkins; finally, he was succeeded by Fox & Snodgrass, with Mr. Fox as Postmaster. About 1836, Darius Burnham surveyed and laid off some lots for a town; had the town duly platted, which was recorded at the Recorder's office in London Ma\ L9, L836, under the name of Liverpool. There were two small log houses on the ground when the town was laid out, after which Mr. Burnham erected the first frame house, a part of which was used for a dwelling and the other part finished up for a storeroom, into which John and David Snyder put in the first stock of goods and commenced trade. They contin ued business a few years and moved away. The next store opened here was by Foster Griffin, who commenced trade by putting in a small stock of "foods and running a moderate trade: his leading business, to which he grave most attention, was dealing in cheese. Finally, Mr. Henry Bnrnham entered into partnership with Mr. Griffin, but remained only a short time, when he withdrew, and L. D. Mann entered into partnership with Mr. Griffin, but in a short time Mr. Mann withdrew, and Mr. Griffin continued business for several years. About 1837-38, Mr. Griffin became Postmaster, the office being moved from the country, where it was first established, to Liverpool, but retaining its original name, Rosedale, and has since remained permanently located in the town. The first blacksmith to locate in the town was a Mr. Creamer. The first physician was Dr. Curl, the next, Dr. Jeremiah Converse; then another Dr. Converse; then Dr. William Adams, Dr. J. C. Kalb and then Di>. Carter. The first shoe-maker was Edsel Carr. The first saddle and harness shop was a branch of McGruder & Heed, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. The town now contains a population of about seventy-five persons, with the following business houses: One general store, by J. P. Carter; one blacksmith, H. C. Yeazell; one shoe-maker, Andrew McBride; one harness and saddle shop, George Glass, and one physician, Dr. F. M. Carte]-.

It is believed that the first grist-mill ever erected in the township was in the northwest corner of the township, on the Little Darby, built by George Van Ness, about L820. This was a three-story frame, quite an imposing structure at t li.it early day, and was, of course, run by water-power. Bat it continued in use <>nh about two years, when the dam was washed out and never rebuilt, and consequently the building was never used again for mill purposes. About L825, Messrs. Lockwood & Nelson erected a gristmill on the Little Darby, in the northeast part of the township, on land now owned by Mrs. Hampshire. Subsequently, these men were succeeded in the* ownership of the mill by James Snodgrass. and ho again by Albert Lombard, who was succeeded by L. D. Mann, who 'was the last to run the mill, after which it stood idle and went, to decay. Aboul L830 31, George Weaver and his son John lmilt a saw-mill on the Little Darby, on lands now owned by Joseph Weaver. This saw-null was run about ten years and then went into decay. These appear to have been the principal early mills. In later yrnv^. there have been a few other mills, principally of the

Pikes And Roads

This township is small in territory, and containing several large stock farms, which usually contain many " by-roads," which lead from one point to another and from one »oad to another, makes the number of pikes and gravel roads somewhat limited in number. The main pikes are the London road and the Mechanicsburg & Liverpool pike. The northwest corner of the township is crossed by the Springfield & Delaware Branch of theC, C, C. & I. R. R, which has a length of about one half a mile within Pike Township. This is the amount of her railroads.

This township being small in territory does not, of course, require as many schoolhouses as some of the larger townships. It has four regularly established suhdisf nets and one joint subdistrict. Most of these have frame houses, the citizens generally taking a fair interest in the subjectof schools and education. The total school funds of last year were $1,592.67. Total expenditures, $1,426.28. Enumeration of the districts as follows: No. 1, males. 36; females, 40; total, 76. No. 2, males, 14; females, 15; total, 29. No. 3, males. 7; females, 12; total, 19. No. 4, males, 18; females, 9; total. 27. No. 5, males. 8; females. 6; total, 14. Total, males, 83; females, 82: total, 165. Township Board of Education: District No. 1. James I'. Carter. President: No. 2. William P. Patrick; No. 3, Pearl M. Keyes: No. 4, -) . M. Bradley (sub-joint); No. 5, J. S. Van Ness.

At the presenl time we are not aware of a single church organization within Pike Township. This condition arises probably from various causes. It is not. we presume, because the people are morally so good and perfect that they have no need of the restraining and salutary effects of churches; neither is it because they are so far the reverse of this that they repel them from their midst. Put there is do town of any magnitude that forms a center and a nucleus upon which to Lay the foundation and draw from the surrounding country the necessary support, The township, as has been stated, contains several large farms, and hence is rather sparsely settled; and it is quite probable that among the scattered population there is quite a diversity of opinions on doctrinal points, and in consequence a limited number of any one faith and doctrine - too limited to secure and support a denominational church. Bui wefind there have been church organizations in the township, and it comes within our province as historians to record upon these pages such facts as we can glean of their history in by -gone days.

Methodist Episcopal ('lunch. Early in the settlement on Barron Run the Methodists organized a class, and it is believed it was organized by John Rathburn. wh^, with the Aliens, the Carrs and some others, were probably members of the firsl class. They held their meetings for many years in private houses and in the schoolhouse; but about L832 33, they erected a frame building for church purposes, which still stands on the Worthington road, but in a very dilapidated condition, and, of course, unused, greetings and services were held in this bouse till about L865-66. At one time this society was quite large and prosperous, but from death, moving away and from other causes, the church waned and finally became extinct. Among the early ministers who preached here were Rev. Morrison, Elder "William Raper, Elder George Walker, Rev. Chase and Rev. Webster Protestant Methodist Church. - About the year L840, a few persons, of whom John H. Surfus was the leader, caused the erection of a brick eLmrch in thr west part of the village of Liverpool, in which was organized a Protestant Methodist society. The class embraced the following persons: John H. Surfus and wife. I. YVhitcomb and wife, some of the Williams family and a few others. This society continued as an organization but a few years, as, after the death of its leader and principal support, Mr. Surfus. it dwindled away and the property was sold to the Catholics, who held services here for several years, when their organization was removed to Mechaniesburg. since which the church building has stood unoccupied. "We have been i?i formed that at quite an early day there was an organization of a Christian Church on Little Darby, but it lias long been extinct, and, as we failed to obtain any definite information of their organization, we simply give the above.

There were several family burying-grounds in this township in an early day. as in other townships, and as in every early settled country. The principal ones of this kind were one near the Little Darby, on the Weaver farm, and known as the Weaver Burying-Ground; one on Barron Run, where Mr. Dockum and others of the early settlers of that neighborhood were buried; one on the land of Charles Phellis. Esq . opposite John Weaver's residence: but this is now, like many others, all in open pasture, and no mark left of its former sacredness: and one on the Guy farm, on Spring Creek, known as the Guy Cemetery. rlhis was first appropriated by Mr. Guy as a family burying-place, and was dedicated to the purpose by the reception of his son, Lewis F., who died November 14, 1843, after which it received the bodies of one or two others, when Mr. Guy deeded it to the Trustees of the township and their successors as a permanent cemetery for general interment of the dead. Subsequently, an addition of onethird of an acre was made, and the whole substantially fenced and the grounds ornameuted with trees and shrubbery, constituting it a tit and pleasant depository of the dead.

As the records of Like Township officials from its organization up to about 1860 have all been either lost or destroyed, we cannot, as we usually rive the early officers of the township, except those who have served as Justices of the Peace, which we obtained from the records at London, and are as follows: 1 s ! :>, Nicholas Moore; then from this date up to 1835 no record could be found, but from that on they were as follows: 1835, Jacob WCaver: 1837, William Guy; 1838, Charles Phellis; IS II. William Guy and Charles Phellis: 1843, Matthew Y. Patrick; 1844, Charles Phellis; 1846, Lester Hunt and .Matthew Y. Patrick: 1848, John R. Stokes and Henry Burnham: 1850, Robert Guy: 1851, Henry Burnham and L. Keyes; 1854, L. D. Mann and Ebenezer T. Boseberry; L855 os. Ebenezer T. Roseberry; L. D. Mann: 1859, John H. Burnham: I860, Benjamin Taylor; 1861, Gilbert Farrington and L. D. Mann: 1864, L. D. Mann and J. M Kennedy.

Chapter Ix

ordered that the following bounds compose a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Monroe: Beginning on the present line, between Deer Creek and Pike Townships, at the upper corner of Wallace's survey, run ning eastwardly, so as to cross Little Darby at the mouth of Barron Run, to the original line between Pike and Darby Townships; thence with the original line until it intersects Jefferson Township line at Mark's survey, then to Henry Camp's lower corner; thence northwesterly with the new road leading to Urbana, including the same as tar as to where said road crosses the London road; thence in a straight line to the place of beginning." In constituting Phelps Township (cow Canaan), in -June of the same year, and subsequently in enlarging Pike Township by taking a portion off of Monroe Township, its boundary lines were changed from the above description to its present lines and limits. This township, in size, is one among the smallest in the county, and in shape is nearly that of an obtuse triangle. It is bounded as follows: On the north by Pike Township, on the east by Canaan and Jefferson Townships, on the south and west by Deer Creek and Somerford Townships.

Surface, Sotl. Etc

The surface of this township is very level, except along the creeks, where it is somewhat broken and hilly. The principal and only streams are Little Darby and Spring Fork. The former courses through the entire township, in the central eastern portion, passing in a southeastern direction into Jefferson Township; the latter, Spring Fork, enters Monroe Township from its northwest corner, and meanders in a southeastern course, nearly through the township, and empties into the Little Darby about one mile north of the south line of the township. Along Little Darb}', on both sides for a little distance from the creek, the surface is quite broken, and in some places quite hilly. East of the stream, and between the Little Darby and Spring Fork, the surface is very level, and after you pass westward over a little undulating portion along Spring Fork, then all westward is very level. In the western and central portions of the township, also in the southeastern part, are large farms, consisting of prairies and oak openings, which are most beautiful lands, and peculiarly adapted to grazing purposes. The soil of these portions is generally a black loam from one to three feet deep. It is being more or less ditched, tiled and drained and when this work is carried to completion it will produce a!! kinds of grain in abundance, and will vie in richness and productiveness with any lands in the State. Along the creeks where the surface is undulating, the soil is generally a clay, but very strong and product ive. and as a whole we may safely say that Monroe is one among the lust townships of the county for stock or grain raising. The principal productions are wheal, corn, potatoes and hay. The timber is in variety about as other townships in the county. On the oak openings, burr oak, hickory and elm are the principal varieties, the former predominating. On the streams are some walnut, and the uneven and hilly portions, where the clay soil predominates, white, black and red oak, hickory, asli and some beech abound. But here, as elsewhere, the timber has been of minor importance, except to get it off of the land so as to produce good pasturage and tillage.

It is probable that among the first white people to settle within the limits of Monroe Township were the Bradley family from Virginia. There were Jonah, David and James Bradley, and two sisters, Susan and Nancy, of whom we give an account. They came here about 1804-5. Jonah settled on Spring Creek, where Sarah Ann Bradley now resides ; he married Susan Powers, who was also a native of Virginia, by whom he had the following children: Alfred, who married Jemima Morrow, and settled in this township, she died, and he married a Miss Lee ; subsequently he moved to Mercer County, where he resided several years, and where his second wife died, after which he returned to this county, where he remained a resident till his death, although his death occurred by accidental drowning while on a visit to Mercer County. He was the father of six children, four grew to maturity - David, John M., Elizabeth and Jemima ; the latter is now deceased ; Elizabeth resides in Union County. Ohio ; David settled in Illinois, where he died ; and John M., married, and is still a resident of this township. David and John (brothers of Alfred), married, settled and spent their lives till their death in this township ; and Jonah was the fourth son. There were five daughters - Elizabeth, Mahala, Mary, Sarah and Susan - of whom Susan and Mahala now survive, and residents of Illinois. Mr. Bradley followed fanning and milling through life. A few years after locating here, he erected a grist mill on Spring Fork, run by water-power, which was one of the first mills in this vicinity ; prior to his building this mill, they went to Chillicothe to do their milling and to buy their groceries. This mill was one of the great improvements of that day, and was a great convenience to the people of this new settlement. Mr. Bradley was a carpenter by trade, and built his mill with his own hands, and to a great extent made his own wagons and implements for use on his farm, thus bringing his trade and skill into good use in that early day, when such articles were then so difficult to obtain. Mr. Bradley died in April, 1865, aged eighty years. David Bradley, brother of the above, first settled near Georgesville, in Franklin County, but soon after moved lie re to Monroe Township, where lie resided till his death. He was the father of four sons - James L. and William deceased, David M. resides on the home place of his father, and Shelton resides in Tazewell County. 111.; and three daughters, Elsie and Jane, deceased, and Cassie, wife of Newman Mitchell, residing in Somerford Township. James Bradley, also brother to the above donah, settled here at same date, and remained here through life. He had at least tour sons - Hiram. Washington, James and Jonas ; but all moved away, and all are now believed to lie deceased.

James .Marks was horn in Kentucky on February II. 1782, and married Nancy Van Kirk, who was limn in Virginia November :.'">. 17.^7; they were married September 3, L809. Mr. Marks came to Monroe Township in 1807 or 1808, and purchased a tract of land on the cast side of the Little Darby, upon which he settled, and commenced in a Log cabin without any floor, door or chimney, and had no furniture. But they had the will, energy and strength, ami went to work in earnest. Success followed, their efforts, and he became owner of nearly 1,000 acres of land in Madison County ; also a large amount of Western lands. On his home place hi' made line improvements : had a good brick house and other good buildings, with a line fruit orchard, and everything comfortable and convenient around them ; quite in contrast to their condition when they firsl settled here. He served as Justice of the Peace several years. They were members of the Baptist Church. Their children were Washington (who married Hannah Hayden), he died September 19, 1808, being killed by the cars; Eliza (married John Taylor); Elizabeth (married James L. Bradley) ; Jefferson (died in infancy) ; Sarah (married William Koos, and resides in Springfield) ; Lucinda (married Rev. Jesse Ferguson, is now de- < eased) ; Jackson (died in childhood) : Matilda (married Glustavus Koos, is now deceased) ; James (died young) ; and Mathias (married Jennie Long, of London, is now deceased). Robert Powers, a native of Virginia, settled on Spring Pork soon after or about the same time as Jonah Bradley, where he resided till his death. Ih' was married in Virginia. Their children were as follows : John, Joseph. Aimer. Edward, Senath, Dorcas and Fanny ; the latter married Mr. Harmon, and resides in Iowa : Joseph and Edward reside in Union County ; all the other children are deceased. Nicholas Moore, a native of Virginia, is believed to he one of the first settlers on Little Darby; he located on land which is now owned by John Weaver, Jr. About ls2n. he, with his family, removed to Illinois, and thence to Iowa, where he died. He married Sarah Downing, by whom he had the following children, born while residing here : William, Catharine. Hannah and Athea. John Downing, a native of Virginia, became one of the early settlers of Jefferson Township about 1808-10, and a few years after moved into Monroe Township, and settled on land just above J. M. Bradley, now owned by Mr. Weaver. In 182^. he removed to Logan County. Ohio. He married Hannah Frakes. by whom he had the following children : John. Josiah. Robert, James, Sarah. Hannah and Mary. Robert and James reside in Logan County; Mary married John Van Devender, and resides in Kansas: all the others deceased. Henry Kampf, a native of Pennsylvania, settled on the Little Darby, near James Marks', about 1809-10, and resided here till about 185Q he removed to Illinois. He married Mary Travis, who died in this township. Their children were John, Mathias, Robert, Henry, Hannah. Sarah and Mary, all now deceased. Peter Paugh, a native of Virginia, settled where Arthur Bradley now resides, about 1804-0, ami remained a resident of the county till his death. He married Mary Johnson, by whom he had the following children: John. Abraham. Henry, Peter, Solomon, Sarah, Mary and Rebecca. Henry lives in Iowa. Peter in Illinois, and Mary now Mrs. Dillon) resides in Indiana ; all the others are deceased. Mr. Paugh was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed through life.

Peter Baker, a native of Virginia, was known to be an early settler, locating on land now owned by La Fayette Wilson, probably as early as 1812, but of him or his family we get no further account. We find his deed for land recorded in January. 1817. Three brothers, Jonas, James and -Joseph Heath, became settlers here about 1815 Jonas settled on Spring Fork, on the Loudon & Marysville road ; James settled in the forks of Little Darby and Spring Fork ; and Joseph settled just north ofhis brother James. Ralston Williams settled on Spring Fork where Joseph, his son, now lives, about 1Sl'.">. He married a Miss Coodin: he was a good farmer, an honest and worthy citizen. Their children were Joseph. Marion. Jane. Elizabeth, Evaline, Rebecca and Eliza. The two sons served in the war of the rebellion: Marion was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and Joseph, who was a Lieutenant, was severely wounded at the same battle. Mr. Williams' wife died, and he married for his second wife the Widow Canada. Mr. Williams died at Irwin Station. Fletcher Pratt, was not a pioneer, but settled hereabout 1830, and resided here through the remainder of his life. His children were John. Sallie. Samuel. Eliza, Kb, Peter and Anna. John Aylor, a native of Virginia, settled on the Little, Darby, on the Wilson land, about 1825. lie erected a saw mill; subsequently he moved to Iowa. David Link, a native of Virginia, settled here same date, 1825 : he erected a grist mill on the Little Darby, and subsequently he removed to Somerford Township and purchased the Roberts Mill; thence he moved to the

West. These mills they built on the Little Darby, did quite a large business for several years, but have long since gone to decay. William Winget. a native of Pennsylvania, married Mary Tomlinson. a Dative of Maryland. They settled on Spring Fork on land now owned by La Fayette Wilson, about 1828. He was the lather of the following children : Mahala, married R. T. Burnham, and settled in Champaign County, but subsequently moved to Iowa, where they now reside ; Mary, married Joseph McCampbell, and settled in Union County, thence removed to Greene County, Ohio, where they now reside ; Luther, married Mary Jane Reynolds, and resides in Union County ; John, married Mary Proctor, and settled at Kenton, Ohio, he is deceased ; William, deceased ; Catharine, married John C. Robinson, and is now deceased ; Elizabeth, married John McCloud, Esq., of London : and David C, married Mary Winget, widow of John Winget, deceased, and resides at Kenton, Ohio.